Hong Kong is grappling with a shortage of dental services, resulting in prolonged wait times and distressing overnight queues at public dental clinics. A lawmaker and a concern group have joined forces to propose a public-private partnership as a solution to ease the burden on public services. The Audit Commission’s recent revelation that appointments at 11 public clinics had plunged by approximately 50% since 2018 has amplified concerns. The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) has highlighted the difficulties in increasing quotas due to the high job vacancy rate among dentists. Public clinics remain the only affordable option for low-income residents, despite their limited services, which mostly focus on emergency measures like tooth extractions and pain relief. SoCO representatives point to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address last year, which outlined plans for public-private partnerships in 2025. They hope that this initiative can bring improvements in dental care. Medical sector lawmaker David Lam Tzit-yuen supports the idea of a public-private partnership to relieve demand for public dental services, especially considering the decline in patient numbers reported by private dentists. He emphasizes the need for clear division of work between the public and private sectors, urging the authorities to enhance coordination rather than relying solely on an amendment to the Dentists Registration Ordinance. The current shortage of dentists in Hong Kong is expected to continue for several years, with projections indicating a shortfall of 115 practitioners in 2030 and 102 in 2035, before easing in 2040.
Hong Kong Urged to Explore Public-Private Partnerships for Dental Services Amidst Shortage
